Apparatus for advertising, &amp;c.



Patented lan. 22, |901.

l H. B. HPEWELL.v APPARATUS FOR ADVERTISING, &c.

(Application Bled June 20, 1900.)

(No Modal.)

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UNITED STATES- lPATENT FFTCE.

HERBERT BARNETT HOPEWELL, OF NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR ADVERTISING, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,524. dated January 22, 1901.

Application iilcd June 20, 1900.

To all 107mm, it nfl/ty concern,.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT BARNETT HOPEWELL, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Nottingham, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Ad vertising and Like Purposes, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to an advertising apparatus consisting of reversible triangular elements adapted to be operated by jacquard mechanism so as to form different letters, words, or devices.

According to the present invention the let- .ters, Words, or the like are not formed on or carried by the elements, as has heretofore been done, but several of the elements go to build up each separate or individual letter, word, or device. In other words, the desired individual elements are operated in different combinations at each action of the jacquard, and thus an endless variety of advertisements or notices, limited only by the number of jacquard-cards, can be produced. This action thus clearly distinguishes my improved apparatus from those in which unchangeable or set advertisements painted on bars are exposed in succession, the possible number of advertisements in such arrangements being strictly limited.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a plan thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the blocks, elements, or pentahedrons. Fig. 4 is a plan in detail, to a larger scale, of one of such blocks, elements, or pentahedrons. Fig. 5 is a like view, but showing the block or element turned upon its pivot oraxis. Fig. 6 is a front or face view of four of the blocks or elements combined and as they appear when in use. Fig. 7 shows a front view of a portion of the advertising apparatus, illustrating how the words or devices may be spelled or plotted out.

The blocks or elements a are supported upon rods l), preferably vertical, forming stationary axes or pivots,on which they are free to turn independently of each other. The rods b are shown supported in a frame c; but in practice they would be suitably supported in the shop-cornice fascia, advertisement box, frame, or board in which it is desired to dis Serial No. 21,011. INO model.)

play the Words or advertisements. The blocks a are preferably hollow or partially hollowed out or open at one side, (see Fig. 3,) and each of them has attached to one of its interior Walls by a joint d a connecting-rod e. Horizontal rods or wires f pass through the vertical rods b above and below the blocks a, so as to keep them in place horizontally, or instead of the horizontal rods or wires I may employ bars or strips of suitable strength arranged horizontal ly, between which the blocks would stand. The vertical rods or pivots would pass through or be supported in such bars or strips.

Each connecting-rod e is attached to a jacquard-needle g, which is kept in position in its frame h by a stop z'. Springs j surround the jacquard-needles g to return them to their original position on the retirement of the jacquard-cylinder.

The rods e are preferablyinclined, as shown in the plan Fig. 2, both to avoid dead-centers and so that when the block has been turned on its axis, as in Fig. 5, its rod e will bear against the edge 7c and act as a stop, so preventing said block from turning any farther upon its axis and maintaining it flush with the plane of the advertisement-surface.

The pattern-cards Z are carried upon the jacquard drum or cylinder m in the Wellknown manner. In the drawings I have shown the jacquard-spindle n carried and free to turn in the ends 0 of reciprocating sliding bars p, supported in bearings q and provided with rolls or trucks fr, adapted to engage in a box-cam s, formed in toothed disks 1f, driven by pinions u. By this means the apparatus may be actuated by power or hand at any desired intervals of time. Clawkers or catch-levers n take over studs w at one or both ends of the cylinder fm, so that when the spindle n. is moved by the reciprocation of the rods or bars p (since the clawkers o are fixed to supports a: upon the frame c) the cylinder m must turn one-quarter of a revolution on its axis, and thus present the next card upon the chain of perforated pattern-cards to the jacquard-needles when the cylinder fm, is moved so as to bring it in contact with the needles.

The sides or faces of the elements may differ in their optical character. For instance,

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one side may be glazed or composed of colored transparent, translucent, or refiecting material to admit of illumination at night, while the rest of the element may be of metal or other opaque material.

The advertisements or the like are formed byturning certain ofthe elements so that their sides or faces contrast with those of the unturned ones and compose, for instance, the letters of a word or words. Thus any desired variety of words or signs can be exhibited by simply causing the jacquard to operate the corresponding elements.

The working is as follows: The proper card Z being brought to the side of the cylinder m, opposite the needles g, the said cylinder is moved by the cams s toward the needles, so causing the card to select and operate those to which the unpunched parts correspond, thereby turning the respective elements or blocks a, so as to cause them to exhibit the required word or words composing the advertisement or announcement. After such advertisement has been displayed the proper length of time the cams move the jacquardcylinder backward and the needles resume their original position under the stress of their springsj, so restoring the elements or blocks to their first or normal position. When the cylinder has cleared the ends of the needies and is moving back to the position shown in Fig. l, the upper left-hand stud 'w takes against the clawker fu. Owing to this the cylinder in completingits backward movement is forced to make a quarter-turn upon its axle, so bringing a fresh card opposite the needles. Thus when the cylinder is moved forward again it will operate a different set of needles and produce a different advertisement or announcement.

I do not limit myself to the particular construction of jacquard showuon the drawings, as it is obvious that any of the well-known forms of jacquard are adaptable to my invention, and the construction adopted would in practice be determined by the position in which the advertising apparatus was to be erected or fixed; nor do I lay any claim to the construction of jacquard shown.

Having now described my invention, I Vclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In apparatus for advertising and like purposes the combination of hollow triangular elements arranged in vertical and horizontal contiguous rows and forming an advertising-surface, two plain exposable faces on each element contrasting with each other,

a jacquard for turning the elements required to plot out or spell the letters composing the advertisement, and means for operating said jacquard and for insuring the faces of the elements lying tlush with the advertisingsurface, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for advertising and like purposes, the combination of hollow triangular elements arranged in vertical and horizontal contiguous rows, connecting-rods coupled inside of said elements, jacquard-needles connected to said rods, jacquard mechanisrn for operating said needles and the elements connected with them, springs around said needles for returning the elements to their normal positions, and means for operating said jacquardv mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus for advertising and like purposes, the combination of hollow triangular elements arranged in contiguous rows, vertical pivot-rods carrying the perpendicular rows of said elements, two plain contrasting faces on said elements, one face forming part of the background and the other part of the advertisement, spring pressed needles connected with the elements for keeping their background-faces normally exposed, jacquard mechanism for operating said needles and so exposing the advertising-faces of the elements, and means for operating said jacquard mechanism, substantially as described.

4. In apparatus for advertising and like purposes, the combination of hollow triangular elements forming the entire advertisingsurface, two exposable contrasting faces in said elements, connecting-rods coupled tothe said elements interiorly and serving as stops to limit rotation of the elements in one direction, jacquard-needles coupled to said connecting-rods, a frame carrying said needles, stops on said needles adapted to abut against the frame and so keep t-he faces of the elements liush, springs for pressing said stops against the frame and returning the elements to their normal position, jacquard mechanism for rotating the elements to form the advertisement, and means for operating said jacquard mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT BARNETT HOIEWELL.

Witnesses:

EDWARD D. I-IEARN, Jr., T. B. Cox.

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